Pipe line cleaner



Nov. 15, 1960 K. c. CRIBLEY PIPE LINE CLEANER Filed March 24, 1958 2Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR Kenne/b Cf Cm b/g ATTORNEYS Nov. 15, 1960 K. c.CRIBLEY PIPE LINE CLEANER 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 24, 1958 INVENTORKen/767% C (Nb/g i I E Ii E ,5 5 v a.

2,959,798 Patented Nov. 15, 1960 H8: Refining .Co., Enid, 0kla., acorporation of Delaware 'Filed Mar. 24, 1958, Ser. No. 723,413 7'Claims.(Chis-104.06)

This invention .relates to the cleaning of the interior surface :of pipe:linesand more'particularly to a pipe line cleaner :having improvedcutting :means embodied there- :In theznorm-al operation :of aproductpipe line used for conveying gasoline, crude oil and.otherproducts, the interior surface of the line becomes rough from theformation of scale or rust. This is due .to the gasoline or productzabsorbing moisture duringrefining or storage. -Duringuhe travel ofztheproduct through the pipe line itcools causing 1116 water to settleon the pipe wall. The water causes oxidation to take place so thatformation of scale and rust occurs.

lMoreover, after-apipe line is initially-constructed it is necessary .toclean :the same-f earth, rocks andother foreign material :that may havebecomes deposited therein duringconstruction. In most new pipe lineinstallations rust inhibitors are utilized. However, there are manythousands of miles :of old product pipe lines still in existence whichmust be maintained in good condition so that a reasonable pumpingcapacity and fairly good flow characteristics are obtained. It will beunderstood that Where considerable rust or scale formation haaccumulated=ina pipe-line the pumping capacity of a pump feedingintosuch line is materially reduced and the flowcharacteristics :aredetrimentally affected. Also, excessive pressuresare created which cancause pump failures.

'Heretofore, :pipe lines have been maintained in a clean condition byintroducing a pipe line cleaner into the line, which cleaner ispropelled-to the discharge end by the flow of material therein. Such cleanershave, in past ye rs, :embodied g0 devil knives and blades of well knownconstruction for scraping and otherwise removing the accumulation-on theinterior surface of the pipes, but without too great a success. -Inrecent years, improved cleaners of the wear-compensating wire brush typehave been advantageously used. The wire brush typerof clean- .er:constitutes .a considerable improvement over the go devil type knivesand blades but have several inherent disadvantages; For example, it hasbeen found that the bristles have a tendency to shear from the brushesleaving -no=bristles toclean or brush during the remainder 9f thecleaner trip. The loose bristles are picked up in {the rubber cupsof'the cleaner causing undue wear and damage thereto. This conditionfrequently resulted in :stoppa-ge of the entire cleaner whichnecessitated removal thereof from the :pipe by cutting out .a sectionand re- ,placing the same.

The present invention contemplates an improved pipe cleaner constructionembodying toothed-disk cutters which function .to improveuthe cleaningefiiciency and at the .same time overcome the disadvantages noted above.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide .a pipeline cleaner having improved toothed disk cutter means arranged tocontact a portion of the .pipeline interior at least .of the order ofninety-five percent of the entire periphery for cleaning scale and otherdeposits from the interior surface of a pipe line.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of a cutterunit for use in a pipe line cleaner :of the type described, which unitincludes a cluster of toothed disk cutters arranged so as to obtain aneflicient cleaning of the interiorof apipe line.

Still another object of the present invention is the provision of thecutter for a pipeline cleaner which can be simply installed and removedfrom the pipe line without danger of minor cuts and bruises to theoperator in handling.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of a pipe linecleaner of the type described which is simple but rugged inconstruction, efficient and durable in operation, and economical tomanufacture and maintain.

These and other objects of the present invention 'will become moreapparent during the course of the following detailed description andappended claims.

The invention may best be understood with reference to the accompanyingdrawings wherein an illustrativeembodiment is shown.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is aside elevational view-of a pipe line cleaner embodying theprinciples of the present invention;

Figure 2 is a cross sectional view of the-cleaner taken along the line22 of Figure 1, showing'the same in its operative position within a pipeline;

Figure 3 is a plan view 'of one of thecutter units;

Figure 4 is an enlarged, fragmentary cross sectional view taken ,alongline-44.of Figure 1;

Figure 5 is an enlarged, fragmentary, elevational view of one group oftoothed .disk cutters illustrating the manner in vwhich the same aremounted; and

Fisgure 6 is an end view of the structure shown in Fig- U176 Referringnowmore particularly to the drawings, tl1ere is shown in Figure 1 a pipeline cleaner embodying the priuciplesof the present invention. Thecleaner includes a forward framesection 10 havingaguide cup or disk 12of flexible material, such as rubber, neoprene or thelike, mounted -on:the forward end thereof. The cup 12 is secured between the forward endof the frame section lthand a rigid no se structure 14 extendingforwardly of the cup whichserves to resist impact during the travel ofthe-cleaner .through-a pipe line. Preferably, the nose structure issecured directly to the forward end of the frame section 1t) as by athreaded connection or the like (not shown), which-connection alsoserves to secure the guide .cup 12 in position. Mounted in alignmentwith'the forward frame section 12 is a rearward ,frame section 16 ofsubstantially identical construction having its forward end detachablyconnected, as by a threaded connect-ionor the like (not shown), to therearward end of :the frame-section 10. Suitably mounted on -thegrear endof the rearward frame section 16 is a rearwardguide cup vor-disk 18 ofrubber, neoprene or the like.

Each of-the frame sections 10* and lfi carries .a series ofcircumferentially spaced cutter units, generally indicated at 20. Eachcutter unit is mounted on the rear 7 end of a leaf spring '22 or-thelike, the forward end of which is suitably secured to the forward end ofthe 'as- .sociatedframe-section. In general, the arrangement'describedabove is conventional in wire brush cleaners and forms nopar-t-of thepresent invention except insofar as the same is combined with the novelcutting units hereinafter described .to form an operative whole.

Referring now more particularly to Figures 3-6, each cutter unitincludes an arcuate base plate 24 which preferably is formed -from asection of pipe or the like. The concave surface ,of the plate isprovided wit-hgrooves 26 whichreceive the rearend of the leaf springs22, The latter is suitably secured to the base plate, by any suitablemeans such as bolts 28 threadedly engaged within apertures 30 formed inthe base plate 24. Mounted on the convex surface of the base plate arethree groups of rotary cutters 32, 34 and 36, forming a cluster of suchcutters. The cutter groups 32 and 34 are mounted in side by siderelation on the forward portion of the base plate between a central lug38 and spaced end lugs 40 and 42 respectively, which lugs are rigidlysecured to the base plate by any suitable means, such as welding or thelike.

The cutter group 32 is mounted for rotation about an axis which, inoperation, is inclined an angle of the order of with respect to a planeperpendicular to the axis of the pipe line being cleaned. The oppositecutter group 34 is mounted for rotation about an axis inclined at asimilar angle of the order of 10 in the opposite direction with respectto a plane perpendicular to the axis of the pipe line. The axes of thetwo cutter groups intersect in a plane passing through the axis of thepipe line and are further inclined with respect to said plane an angleof the order of 74 on opposite sides thereof.

The cutter group 36 is mounted in trailing relation to the cutter groups32 and 34 in the central portion of the base plate rotation about anaxis inclined an angle of the order of 10 with respect to a planeperpendicular to the axis of the pipe line and disposed in a planeperpendicular thereto passing through the intersection of the axes ofthe cutter groups 32 and 34, by spaced lugs 44 and 46 rigidly secured tothe base plate by any suitable means, such as welding or the like.

Each of the groups of cutters are preferably of identical constructionand each embodies a plurality of thin disks 48 having V-shaped teeth 50formed on the periphery thereof. The individual toothed disks of eachgroup are mounted for independent rotation about a shaft 52 journalledin appropriate apertures formed in the associated lugs of the group,with washers 53 preferably being interposed between the outer tootheddisks and the associated lugs. Each shaft 52 is detachably mountedwithin its associated apertured lugs by any suitable means. As shown theexposed shaft ends which, in the case of the cutter groups 32 and 34includes only one, are preferably formed with semi-circular cut outs 54which receive plates 56 removably secured to the associated lugs as bybolts 58 or the like. The bolts 58 are locked into position to therebysecure the plate 56 within the cut out portion 54 of the associatedshaft, by any suitable means, such as a wire 60 extending throughsuitable apertures formed in the bolts 58. While the number of tootheddisks utilized in each group may be varied, as shown, the forward groups32 and 34 include six toothed disks while the rearward group 36 includesnine similar disks.

In operation, the cleaner is inserted in a pipe line with the nosestructure 14 foremost. As the cleaner is inserted, the forward cup 12fits tightly within the interior surface of the pipe line and the cutterunits carried on the leaf springs 22 are deflected generally radiallyinwardly so that when they are disposed within the pipe, the leafsprings 22 serve to resiliently urge the same into engagement with thepipe interior. The rearward cup 18 also tightly engages the interiorsurface of the pipe. The cups center the cleaner in the pipe line andthe resilient engagement of the cutters with the pipe line insure aneven peripheral wearing of the cups.

When flow has been established in the line, the cleaner will be movedtherethrough by and at the rate of flow established. It will be notedthat the forward frame section has mounted thereon fourcircumferentially spaced cutter units 20 and the rearward frame section16 has a similar number of cutter units, the latter being staggered withrespect to the cutter units of the forward frame section. In this way, aportion of the interior periphery of at least of the order ofninety-five percent of the entire periphery is contacted by the tootheddisk cutters of all the units. It will be noted that the forward cuttergroups of each unit are spaced apart and the rearward group spans thespacing between the forward groups. The inclination of the rearwardgroup of cutters serves to impart a slight rotary movement to the entirecleaner during its longitudinal movement through the pipe line. It willbe understood that where such rotary movement is not desired, alternatecutter groups 36 in the circumferential series can be oppositelydisposed so that the cleaner will travel in a straight line through thepipe.

Tests have shown that the present cleaner has obtained a much moresatisfactory cleaning of a line in 13 trips therethrough than waspreviously obtained by 300 trips through a line with the cleanersheretofore known. This superiority is primarily due to the use of rotarytoothed disk type cutters and to their arrangement whereby a portion ofthe interior periphery of the pipe line at least of the order ofninety-five percent of the entire periphery is contacted duringoperation. The particular angulation of each cutter group and therelative disposition of the groups of each unit in clusters and theultimate staggering of the clusters achieves the above contact in asimple and efficient manner. 1

Moreover, the tests have shown that rotary toothed dis type cutters arenot subject to wear to the same degree as the cutting elementspreviously used such as the go devil blades or wire brushes. Cutters ofthe present invention are also more readily handled by the operatorwithout danger of minor cuts and bruises which sometimes occur inhandling go devil blades and wire brushes.

It will thus be seen that the objects of this invention have been fullyand effectively accomplished. It will be realized, however, that theforegoing specific embodiment has been shown and described only for thepurpose of illustrating the principles of this invention and is subjectto extensive change without departure from such principles. Therefore,this invention includes all modifications encompassed within the spiritand scope of the following claims.

I claim:

1. In a pipe line cleaner of the type including frame means, a pluralityof circumferentially spaced arms car ried by said frame meansresiliently biased substantially radially outwardly with respect to theaxis of the pipe line during operation, and cutter units on said arms;the improvement comprising each of said cutter units comprising a baseplate, two groups of rotary cutters mounted on said base plate incircumferentially spaced relation with respect to the axis of the pipeline being cleaned, a single group of rotary cutters mounted on saidbase plate in axial alignment with the space between said two cuttergroups and in axially spaced relation thereto, each of said cuttergroups including a plurality of toothed disks mounted in side by siderelation for independent rotation about a common axis.

2. A cutter unit as defined in claim 1 wherein the axis of each group,in operation, is inclined with respect to a plane perpendicular to theaxis of a pipe line being cleaned.

3. A cutter unit as defined in claim 2 wherein all of said cutter groupsare inclined at substantially equal angles with said two cutter groupsbeing inclined in opposite directions.

4. A cutter unit as defined in claim 1 wherein the axes of said twocutter groups are angularly related and intersect at a point disposed,in operation, in a plane containing the axis of said single cutter groupand disposed parallel to the axis of the pipe line being cleaned.

5. A cutter unit as defined in claim 4 wherein the axes of said twocutter groups are further inclined substantially equal angles onopposite sides of a plane passing through said point of intersection andthe axis of a pipe line being cleaned.

6. In a pipe line cleaner of the type including frame means, a pluralityof circumferentially spaced arms carried by said frame means resilientlybiased substantially radially outwardly with respect to the axis of thepipe line during operation, and cutter units on said arms; theimprovement comprising each of said cutter units comprising a baseplate, two groups of rotary cutters mounted on said base plate incircumferentiary spaced relation with respect to the axis of the pipeline being cleaned, a single group of rotary cutters mounted on saidbase plate in axial alignment with the space between said two cuttergroups and in axially spaced relation thereto, each of said cuttergroups including a plurality of toothed disks mounted in side by siderelation for independent rotation about a common axis, the axis of eachof said cutter groups being inclined at an angle of the order of tendegrees from a plane perpendicular to the axis of a pipe line beingcleaned, the axes of said two cutter groups being oppositely inclinedand intersecting at a point disposed in a plane containing the axis ofsaid single cutter group and disposed parallel to the axis of the pipeline being cleaned, the axes of said two cutter groups being furtherinclined on opposite sides of a plane passing through said intersectionpoint and the axis of the pipe line being cleaned an angle of the orderof seventy-four degrees.

7. In a pipe line cleaner of the type including frame means andresilient cup means carried by said frame means for engagement with theinterior surface of a pipe line to guide the cleaner therein and effectmovement of the same along the pipe line in response to a fluid flowtherein, the improvement comprising cutter means mounted on said framefor resiliently biased substantially radially outwardly engagement withthe interior surface of the pipe line during movement of the cleanertherethrough, said cutter means including a plurality of groups ofrotary cutters positioned circumferentially to contact a portion of theinterior periphery of a pipe line at least of the order of ninety-fivepercent of the entire periphery, each of said groups including aplurality of toothed disks mounted in side by side relation forindependent rotation about a common axis, the common axis of each rotarycutter group being disposed, in operation, at an angle with respect to aplane perpendicular to the axis of the pipe line, certain of said rotarycutter groups having their axes disposed at an angle inclined in adirection opposite from the inclination of the angle of the axes ofother of said rotary cutter groups.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS597,421 Krueger Ian. 18, 1898 858,525 Mettler July 2, 1907 1,193,005Frank Aug. 1, 1915 1,377,537 Wimmer May 10, 1921 2,622,255 Ver Nooy Dec.23, 1952 2,641,010 Lang et a1. June 9, 1953 FOREIGN PATENTS 11,877Denmark Mar. 1, 1909 128,190 Germany Feb. 18, 1902 225,827 Germany May29, 1909 341,023 Germany Sept. 22, 1921

